Champions League
Neymar’s penchant for big games: moment to show yourself
PSG star Neymar at the press conference in Paris. photo
© Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Things haven’t been going well for him since Qatar’s World Cup tears. Neymar is looking for his top form. He can understand criticism. He wants to show what he can do against Bayern.
Neymar renounced show and glamour. Pulling the PSG cap a little lower over his face, the Brazilian, who is also known for his football eccentricities, even showed understanding for the criticism of his recent performances.
“Everyone has the right to express their point of view,” said Neymar: “Some games don’t go very well. You want to do everything, but it doesn’t work.”
After the bitter World Cup end with the Brazilians, who were so highly traded, in the World Cup quarter-finals on penalties against Croatia, Neymar flew off the field in the first game to Qatar 2022 within two minutes after an embarrassing yellow-red card. Neymar then experienced the following defeat on New Year’s Day as a spectator.
Neymar: ‘Football is not about love’
Neymar was on the pitch for PSG’s three other competitive games this year. After scoring seven goals in the first five league games to start the season, Neymar has netted just once in the league this year. “The celebrations after some goals have shown that Neymar has the rhythm in his blood, but since his arrival at PSG in 2017 you never really know which foot to dance with the Brazilian star,” wrote broadcaster RMC Sport.
“I’ve been a professional for 15 years, I know that happens,” he said about his low before the round of 16 first leg in the Champions League against FC Bayern Munich. Games like that in the evening (9 p.m. / Amazon Prime Video) against the German record champions from Munich, he likes games against big teams, Neymar also emphasized. “This is the moment when great players can show themselves,” said the 31-year-old, who recently made headlines with a cabin quarrel with PSG adviser Luís Campos. “It happens. Football isn’t about love.”
It is understandable that he is hoping for the return of his two highly decorated strike partners. World champion Lionel Messi, once in a team with Neymar at FC Barcelona, returns after a short injury break. Former world champion Kylian Mbappé could make his comeback after an injury at the beginning of the month after a three-week break, which was always proclaimed. “When we play as a threesome, we feel stronger,” said Neymar. We, that means he himself in the fight against his own form crisis.